PAPER PULPIT: Passion, penitence, praise

By John RicheyNorthside Baptist Church

Published: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 7:28 p.m.

Psalm 100:1-5 (NKJV): “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations.”

This particular Psalm is known as a “Psalm of Thanksgiving,” and it also is known as “A Royal Psalm.” It calls for all creation to worship and celebrate God as Creator and King.

We may picture in our minds a procession of worshipers approaching the city of Jerusalem, with Solomon’s Great Temple looming before them. They would sing the first three verses of this Psalm at the city gates. From within the Temple courtyard, the Jewish choir would answer antiphonally with verses four and five. There is much to learn from this Psalm, but I would like to focus on three thoughts.

1. As believers, we are to celebrate with passion (Verse 1). We need to get excited about worship of our great and marvelous God.

I am afraid that in many of our churches, we often cling to our Puritan pasts that saw absolutely no joy in worship. There was nothing allowed in singing, teaching or preaching that showed any emotions or semblance of joy.

My friends, we should be so happy in serving Jesus Christ our Savior that anyone we encounter would say “Wow! That person is different from most people I see on a daily basis.”

I am not talking about being giddy or silly, but glad, joyous, cheerful children of God (Verse 2).

We are to sing a new song. Christians should have a song in their hearts that every now and then can’t help but come bubbling out. Shakespeare said, “Give me a man who sings as he works.” I personally cannot carry a note, but I like to sing the words of songs that glorify God and magnify His dear Son. One day in glory, I will be able to sing with the best of the best.

I read where the “grand old pastor” of Bellevue Baptist in Memphis, Tenn., R.G. Lee, said, “Our best music here will sound like a bumblebee in a bottle, compared to what we shall hear in Heaven.”

2. We are to celebrate With penitence (Verse 3). The biblical verb “know” means to know by experience. God is sovereign, and the only way to know Him is through a personal relationship by placing your faith in Jesus Christ, His Son.

We need to see God as David saw Him in this great Psalm. David saw Him as the Creator and sustainer of all that is, or ever shall be. He is the Almighty, Everlasting God of all Heaven and earth.

When we see Him in all His glory and splendor, how can we do anything less than cry out to Him as did the Publican in Luke 18:13, “who beat his breast saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner?’”

When we see ourselves for who we really are, “sinners saved by grace,” and see God as He truly is, “the King of Glory,” we will learn to celebrate with penitence.

3. We are to celebrate with praise (Verses 4 and 5).

The processions of worshippers now have reached the gates of the sanctuary, and they burst out in songs of praise.

I want us to be sure that we do not miss the importance of worship in Old Testament times. The worshippers could only go to the outer courts. There they would give their animals of sacrifice as an offering for their sins, as well as the sins of the entire family. The High Priest then would kill the sacrifice for the people’s sins, as well as his own personal sins. Then the priest would enter the “Holy Place.” He would go into “The Holy of Holies” one time each year and make an atonement for the sins of the great multitudes of sinful people. No wonder the people broke out in praise and thanksgiving.

Well, Calvary changed all that, and today we may enter into His courts with praise and thanksgiving any time we choose, through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

I wish to make three important observations about Verse 5 of this great Psalm:

• There is an essential truth: The Lord is good.

• There is an everlasting truth: The Lord’s mercy is eternal.

• There is an enduring truth: The Lord’s trust is for all who want it.

<p>Psalm 100:1-5 (NKJV): “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures to all generations.”</p><p>This particular Psalm is known as a “Psalm of Thanksgiving,” and it also is known as “A Royal Psalm.” It calls for all creation to worship and celebrate God as Creator and King.</p><p>We may picture in our minds a procession of worshipers approaching the city of Jerusalem, with Solomon's Great Temple looming before them. They would sing the first three verses of this Psalm at the city gates. From within the Temple courtyard, the Jewish choir would answer antiphonally with verses four and five. There is much to learn from this Psalm, but I would like to focus on three thoughts.</p><p>1. As believers, we are to celebrate with passion (Verse 1). We need to get excited about worship of our great and marvelous God.</p><p>I am afraid that in many of our churches, we often cling to our Puritan pasts that saw absolutely no joy in worship. There was nothing allowed in singing, teaching or preaching that showed any emotions or semblance of joy.</p><p>My friends, we should be so happy in serving Jesus Christ our Savior that anyone we encounter would say “Wow! That person is different from most people I see on a daily basis.”</p><p>I am not talking about being giddy or silly, but glad, joyous, cheerful children of God (Verse 2).</p><p>We are to sing a new song. Christians should have a song in their hearts that every now and then can't help but come bubbling out. Shakespeare said, “Give me a man who sings as he works.” I personally cannot carry a note, but I like to sing the words of songs that glorify God and magnify His dear Son. One day in glory, I will be able to sing with the best of the best.</p><p>I read where the “grand old pastor” of Bellevue Baptist in Memphis, Tenn., R.G. Lee, said, “Our best music here will sound like a bumblebee in a bottle, compared to what we shall hear in Heaven.” </p><p>2. We are to celebrate With penitence (Verse 3). The biblical verb “know” means to know by experience. God is sovereign, and the only way to know Him is through a personal relationship by placing your faith in Jesus Christ, His Son.</p><p>We need to see God as David saw Him in this great Psalm. David saw Him as the Creator and sustainer of all that is, or ever shall be. He is the Almighty, Everlasting God of all Heaven and earth.</p><p>When we see Him in all His glory and splendor, how can we do anything less than cry out to Him as did the Publican in Luke 18:13, “who beat his breast saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner?'” </p><p>When we see ourselves for who we really are, “sinners saved by grace,” and see God as He truly is, “the King of Glory,” we will learn to celebrate with penitence.</p><p>3. We are to celebrate with praise (Verses 4 and 5).</p><p>The processions of worshippers now have reached the gates of the sanctuary, and they burst out in songs of praise.</p><p>I want us to be sure that we do not miss the importance of worship in Old Testament times. The worshippers could only go to the outer courts. There they would give their animals of sacrifice as an offering for their sins, as well as the sins of the entire family. The High Priest then would kill the sacrifice for the people's sins, as well as his own personal sins. Then the priest would enter the “Holy Place.” He would go into “The Holy of Holies” one time each year and make an atonement for the sins of the great multitudes of sinful people. No wonder the people broke out in praise and thanksgiving.</p><p>Well, Calvary changed all that, and today we may enter into His courts with praise and thanksgiving any time we choose, through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.</p><p>I wish to make three important observations about Verse 5 of this great Psalm:</p><p>• There is an essential truth: The Lord is good.</p><p>• There is an everlasting truth: The Lord's mercy is eternal.</p><p>• There is an enduring truth: The Lord's trust is for all who want it.</p>
<p class="italic font120">John Richey is pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Reece City.</p>